Study: Eating Crickets Is Good for Gut Health

Study: Eating Crickets Is Good for Gut Health Cultures have eaten insects for years, but now
it's gaining traction in
Europe and the U.S. A new clinical trial, conducted by
the University of Wisconsin-Madison,
has determined that eating crickets can
reduce inflammation and improve gut health. The study was conducted with 20 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 48 over a six-week period. Participants ate cricket powder, rather than whole crickets. Researchers collected blood and stool samples
and had participants answer a gastrointestinal questionnaire before and after the six weeks. Participants didn't report any significant gastrointestinal changes, but researchers
found something interesting. An increase in a metabolic enzyme associated with gut health was found, as well as an abundance of Bifidobacterium animalis - good gut bacteria. Researchers also found a decrease
in TNF-alpha, which is an inflammatory
protein linked to depression and cancer. While the stud